Quality assurance and development

It has a university Commission for Quality Assurance and Development, a department for quality assurance and development (QAD), the Accreditation Working Committee (AKKRED) and faculty quality commissions.

The holistic understanding of quality includes, on the one hand, the control cycle for planning measures and reviewing the goals of the Strategy 2030 (Only in German) and, on the other hand, the systematic evaluation of all areas of the University of Bern, taking into account the specific characteristics of varying teaching and research cultures.

QAD - Regulations

QAD in the faculties

Based on the university-wide QAD guidelines for core  tasks and the central administration, all faculties have their own QAD guidelines to meet the specific needs and requirements in the evaluation of teaching and research.

 

As training centers for medical doctors and veterinarians, the Faculty of Medicine and the Vetsuisse Faculty are subject to additional quality requirements:

 

In addition, other degree programs, particularly in continuing education, are externally accredited.

QAD in the central administration

Quality assurance and development are regulated by the QAD guidelines for the core tasks of teaching, research, services and the central administration. 

In addition to teaching, research and services, the quality of the core tasks is continuously and systematically improved in the four vice-rectorates and the administrative directorate. All organizational units of the central administration define their core tasks in service descriptions, which are reviewed every four years based on a self-assessment considering the measures formulated in the University’s Action Plan. 

The fulfilment of these core tasks is also assessed every eight years through a peer review process: independent experts critically review the fulfilment of the tasks with regard to the efficiency of processes and resources, taking into account the views of the faculties and other stakeholders. Any resulting suggestions for improvement are incorporated into the University Action Plan as measures and systematically implemented.

The administrative processes of the entire central administration are also unanimously mapped and reviewed annually and adjusted if necessary.

QSE in the strategic centers

The strategic centres and centres with special mandates conduct a self-evaluation as a prerequisite for being awarded a new four-year performance mandate. The participatory procedures enable the centers to review and fulfil their tasks and objectives in line with the Strategy 2030. An external perspective also ensures that scientific, academic and social requirements are addressed and discussed with all stakeholders. The formative evaluations thus enable a systematic reflection on structure, organization, development opportunities and the quality of research, teaching and services.

The measures derived from the findings are continuously implemented and their effectiveness systematically reviewed. The procedures carried out by the centers themselves are set out in the Leitfaden zur Selbstevaluation von strategischen Zentren und Zentren mit besonderem Auftrag der Universität Bern and are monitored by the QSE Department.

Graduate study

Every two years, the Federal Statistical Office conducts a survey of university graduates and makes the data available to universities.

The objectives of the survey are:

  • to provide an overview of the career entry and general professional situation of former students by university and subject area.
  • to survey the satisfaction of those starting their careers. 
  • to compare the skills acquired during their studies with the requirements of professional life.

 

To ensure the quality of teaching and the continuous development of study programs, the University of Bern has been conducting its own evaluations of the data since 2009, and since 2025 in a data dashboard accessible within the university.